Cool pool, French food and American blues

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Faves and raves by Laurent Detoc (Click the picture to see Laurent's faves)

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AGE: 44

YEARS IN THE CITY: 17NEIGHBORHOOD: Telegraph Hill

OCCUPATION: Works at Ubisoft, bringing the best software entertainment experiences to a screen near you

SELF-DESCRIPTION: Passionate and committed, has been working at Ubisoft for 20 years and married for 15, can be stubborn, which is a personality trait from Brittany (the region of France where he is from)

Driving along this beautiful grassy field many times, I thought it was cool to watch the kites. A lot of cars drive by, so it is a bit of a show. We’ve been honked at when my 50-pound kid tried to fly while pulled up by a 2-square- meter kite. (His mom knows I was holding a leash to the kite!)

FAVORITE PLACE TO SEE A CONCERT

Café du Nord

WHERE: 2174 Market St., between 15th and Church streets

WHAT: Personal feel, loaded with history

INFO: (415) 861-5016 or www.cafedunord.com

Good music yet small enough to feel personal. The place is charged with history too. There is something about walking downstairs and going underground that puts me in a rock ’n’ roll mood. FAVORITE PLACE TO GET A DRINK

The Saloon

WHERE: 1232 Grant Ave., at Broadway

WHAT: Great place to show American blues to foreign guests

INFO: (415) 989-7666

It bleeds American flavor for my foreign guests. Besides, I love blues and theirs is always good. Last but not least, I can walk home since blues and Jack Daniels tend to go well together.

FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT FRENCH FOOD

South Park Café

WHERE: 108 S. Park St., South Park

WHAT: Try the mussels or the croque-monsieur

INFO: (415) 495-7275 or www.southparkcafesf.com

It’s two minutes from my office — perfect for a lunch date. The mussels or the croque-monsieur with salad coupled with some Acme bread, butter and perfect fries hit the spot every time.FAVORITE KIDS SWIMMING PLACE

Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club

WHERE: 370 Drumm St., between Washington and Jackson streets

WHAT: Clean and not busy

INFO: (415) 616-8800 or www.ggtsc.com

The premises and the pool are perfectly clean, and the kids’ pool is not busy. The club has tennis courts, a nice grass lawn, a jacuzzi.

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Lycee Francais La Perouse

WHERE: 755 Ashbury St., between Waller and Frederick streets

WHAT: The real thing

INFO: (415) 661-5232

This is the real French school. Our kids go there. The Lycee follows the French curriculum so at the end of high school, students can apply to U.S. and French universities. FAVORITE JUDO CLASSES FOR KIDS

San Francisco Judo Institute

WHERE: 2530 Taraval St., between 35th and 36th avenues

WHAT: All levels, impressive teachers

INFO: (415) 661-3436 or www.sfji.org

The class is open to all levels and ages. The instructors are really very serious as they teach students about hard work, respect and techniques. Outside of class they’re always incredibly welcoming.